Ford Escape with A Ford Cooling pump

[bocanut50]

We have a 2011 Ford Escape, 2WD Automatic. After being told by our dealer, and reading the owners manual, that we could flat-tow it, we have cooked the Transmission twice. We have been without our car since 7/15/2013, and will not get it replaced until the end of Oct, or Nov. I guess you could say we had an Escape

Has anyone had the Ford cooling pump installed and what was your experience with it like? What year Escape do you have?

Answers ASAP would be appreciated. Ford has made an offer with a time limit and frankly, we do not trust Ford anymore!!!

Thanks.

Bill

[MeanderMan]

I've towed our 2010 Escape for over 3000 miles so far without a problem. But I'm careful. I had the TSB performed and verified the fluid level. I spend six minutes before towing going through the gears before ending in neutral. Since the problem is heat buildup and fluid expansion, I unlatch the hood and use a door stop to keep tension on the hood, and also have a safety cable just in case the safety latch would fail. I use an IR gun to check the temperature at a minimum of every 10 miles - a transmission mechanic showed me the best place to check the temperature. If the temp gets over 250, I run the engine and shift through the gears until it returns to below 200. Lots of work? Yup, but it keeps everything running until I can trade this mistake in for a CRV next year.

[jbbrick]

I think Remco wants about a grand for the pump but they don't specifically list it on their site. Installation is a bit tricky from what I've read. I think I'll wait and see how mine holds up and maybe think about trading in when my drive train warranty expires, or maybe look into an extended warranty. Luckily towed miles don't add to your odometer.

[Dutch_12078]

The electric pump Ford installs to make the Escape a reliable 4-down tow is a standard Remco setup that's been adapted for the Escape and other Ford models with the same transmission. Remco pumps have an excellent history of reliability. The pump in my current Toyota RAV4 has been running for about 40,000 towing miles so far, in two vehicles without a single hiccup.

[bocanut50]

JBBrick
You have been very lucky. Also we had it in for service just before we left and have it in writing that the level was correct.

It's a lease,so I don't care about. trade in value. The bigger problem is we have to go up to an Edge because the newer Escapes are not towable. I guess Ford got tired of replacing transmission !!! Edges are quite a lot bigger and more expensive. I would like get away from Ford, and go to something like a CRV, but don't think that will be an option.

What I want is what I said, has anyone had the Ford offered cooling pump installed and their experience with it? That is one of Ford's offers, on the new transmission or buy it back and get either a Focus ( to small) or the Edge, or one of the limited towable sedans. We purchased a SUV for a reason!!! Now we can't use it!!

[gotsmart]

Ford has made an offer to do what? install the pump? buy back the car?

The bigger question becomes 'how many more times can this happen before Ford refuses to replace the transmission under warranty?'

If Ford is offering a free transmission cooler without conditions (as in 'no more free transmissions') then take it. It will only increase the trade-in/resale value of the car. My Ford pickup had a factory installed transmission cooler.

Having had it fail twice already, I would be more inclined not to risk it and replace the car if at all possible. I would get the car back, remove the tow bar base plates, tail light kit, etc and return the car to stock condition - then private sell it (eg: craigslist).

If you attempt to trade it in you may get questioned by the dealer as to why the car's service history says that it is on its 3rd transmission. 'Burned out after flat towing' is an answer they may run away from. A private buyer is less likely to make the sale conditional on a carfax report. If they were smart, they would.

[jbbrick]

There's a lot of discussion re this issue on this board. I have a 2010, same setup as yours. I like it as a daily driver and have towed for several thousand miles so far with no issues at all. Had the fluid lowered per Ford TSB which I think is pretty important, I watch the temp, reading the trans case occasionally with a small ir thermometer, but it's always within normal range. I have about 30k on it, zero problems. I follow the book recs about shifting, warmup, etc. Still have a few years and miles left on the drivetrain warranty so I feel kind of safe. I'll watch this thread for more answers.

If Ford offered me a trans cooler I think I'd take it but you prob have to have a few failures before they do that. Or, get it fixed and get a CRV instead but I like the Escape.

[bocanut50]

After the first one, we always did double check every time. About 200-300 miles at driver changes and depending on bladder habits!!! (G)

[sch911]

Were you starting the engine and shifting into D then R every 6 hours as required by Ford?